Old beyond his years: Stunning portrait of 16-year-old refugee rescued in the Mediterranean has scooped a top prize in one of Australia's most prestigious competitions

Freedom: Pamela Pauline's snap of a brumby stallion roaming the Snowy Mountains was one of a dozen winners in the Head On Photo Awards, presented in Sydney on the weekend. It placed third in the landscape category

A haunting photo of a 16-year-old refugee from Mali rescued from a leaky rubber boat in the Mediterranean Sea he shared with 117 others has won Cesar Dezfuli a top prize at the 2017 Head On Photo Awards.

More than 5,000 gifted photographers competed for the prestigious Australian awards in four categories and a share in the $50,000 prize pool, with the winners announced in Sydney on the weekend.

First prize in the Landscape category went to Todd Kennedy for an image of a rock formation at Lake Mungo, NSW, that looks like it was taken in black and white but just brings out the rock's natural colours.

Another Australian entry came third in the landscape category, depicting a brumby stallion roaming the Snowy Mountains.

The Mobile prize winner depicted a wild storm in the hazardous straight between Greece and Turkey - not far from the Gallipoli landing site - followed by two photos of life in a hospital.

Inventive use of the slow shutter speed to create a ghostly look at the photographer's friend dancing won the student prize.

The winners and finalists are on show alongside 60 other exhibitions at the Head On Photo Festival at UNSW Art & Design in Paddington, Sydney, on May 6 to 28.

Lit from above: Todd Kennedy's shot of a rock formation in Lake Mungo, NSW, that looks like it was taken in black and white but just brings out the rock's natural colours. It won the landscape category

The Tempest: Demetris Koilalous' photo depicted a wild storm in the hazardous straight between Greece and Turkey - not far from the Gallipoli landing site. It won the mobile category for photos shot with a phone